Cubs lost the first one today, let’s see how this one goes…..
Game One Hundred Eight: Cubs (44-63) vs. Diamondbacks (55-52)
Game Two – WGN TV, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 186
Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Juan Mateo (0-0, -.–) vs. Enrique Gonzalez (3-2, 4.96)
Dusty should get to empty his bench today….The Cubs are scheduled to start their third rookie pitcher in a row. Today’s double header is the first at Wrigley since September 10, 2004 against the Marlins. Juan Mateo is scheduled to make his Major League debut in Game Two of today’s twinbill. Mateo will be the third Cubs’ starter this season that skipped Triple-A and went straight to the Majors. Mateo was 7-4 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) for the Diamond Jaxx. In 92 2/3 innings Mateo struck out 70 and walked 26. With the Diamondbacks scheduled to use a rookie in Game 2 as well, this game could be decided by the bullpens. Mateo was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the Rule V draft but was returned to the Cubs when he did not make the Cardinals active roster out of Spring Training. Mateo will join former teammates with the Diamond Jaxx, Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol, as another rookie to start a game for the Cubs this season. Along with Marshall and Marmol….Rich Hill, Angel Guzman and Jae Kuk Ryu have all made starts this season and the Cubs are second in the league, behind the Marlins, for the most number of starts by rookie pitchers.
Enrique Gonzalez had a very promising debut on May 28th against the Reds. The rookie right-hander gave up just 1 run on 3 hits in 6 innings of work but since then he is just 2-2 with a 5.34 ERA in 10 games (9 starts). Gonzalez gives up a lot of hits (30 in 23 2/3 innings), he throws strikes and the Cubs are not familiar with him. The Cubs must jump on Gonzalez and not allow him to gain any confidence. They will have their chances against Gonzalez and hopefully the offense will stay hot and give Mateo his first career win.
Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball….